Our company is involved in a wide range of activities, primarily focusing on the planning and management of business events, as well as providing consulting, operational support, and interpretation services to corporations. However, on this page, we’ll give you a candid look at who Ariel really is and what I’ve been up to.
Over the years, many people have asked me questions like these:
“What kind of upbringing did you have, Ariel?”
“Why is English your first language? You’re Japanese, right?”
“Your background is so mysterious… you’re such an enigma!”
That’s right—no matter how many times I explain it, people just tilt their heads in confusion. So, I’ve decided to open up about my story and personal life.
I was born as the eldest of 11 siblings. My family belonged to a communal living community where, believe it or not, “English” was the first language. We moved around a lot—12 times by the time I turned 18. Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Aomori… then back to Osaka, Nagano, Hiroshima, Okayama, Gifu, Nagoya, Nagano… I never had any sense of “putting down roots”; it was always new places and new relationships.
At home, I took my role as the “eldest daughter” very seriously. Making lunch, doing laundry, cleaning, looking after my younger siblings… There were times when I’d cook dinner while carrying my little brother in a baby carrier and helping my other siblings with their homework.
When I turned 16, I completed the high school curriculum in English through self-study. In Japan, this would be considered a “junior high school graduate,” but I successfully obtained a high school diploma recognized in English-speaking countries! So, my final educational background is sort of “High School Graduate! (English Version).”
When I was around 18, I suddenly learned “a certain fact” one day. “My biological father was a different person from my current father”— It also turned out that I had a whopping 27 half-siblings. (Laughs)
November 2010. When I was 22, I received a sudden invitation from my biological father.
“I’m going to an Anthony Robbins seminar in New York. Want to come?”
Of course, I’d have to cover my own travel, transportation, and accommodation costs.
“What do they even do at a seminar? Just listen to someone talk? Who is Anthony anyway? If it’s not interesting, I’m in New York anyway, so I’ll just do some sightseeing”—with that casual mindset, I decided to go. However, this seminar experience became a turning point in my life.
In 2011, I took the plunge and moved to Tokyo. Inspired by my experience at Anthony’s seminar,
“I want to learn more about how people behave and how the mind works”
“I want to get deeply involved in the world of NLP and seminars”
.
I was 23 at the time. It was a period when I was living and taking on challenges with reckless abandon. I ended up supporting the launch of a video production company, working on a new project at a seminar company, and embarking on a path to confront head-on the “gap in learning between Japan and overseas”.
Overseas clients act in a surprisingly “simple” and “quick” manner.
“What can you do?”
“OK, let’s do it!”
They possess a sense of speed and momentum, and actively seek to embrace “things no one has done yet.” So, naturally, their track record keeps growing
- Results come quickly
- Challenges are taken on quickly
- Improvements are made quickly
This creates a cycle.
On the other hand, Japanese companies were, quite frankly, a striking contrast.
“Do you have a track record?”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing…”
“Since no one else is doing it, we’ll wait and see.”
“Let me check with my boss first…”
“We need to gather everyone’s opinions first…”
And even when we finally get started, the project gradually drifts away from the initial proposal and ends up reverting to “the option that feels safest.”
And then I realized.
“The Japanese market isn’t ready yet.”
Japan
values security, preparation, and perfection.
Overseas,
challenge, speed, and improvement
are valued.
Neither is inherently right. Fundamentally, all of these are important elements. However, when it comes to “delivering new value,” there are definitely moments when speed is everything.
This is an era where if you wait, you’ll be left behind.
In my opinion, the strongest approach is when these two elements come together.
Japan
values security, preparation, and perfection.
Overseas markets
place value on challenge, speed, and improvement.
What we should aim for is this “combination.”
- It is precisely because there is security that people can take on challenges
- Preparation is important, but “speed” is also necessary for preparation
- If you strive too much for perfection, your work will never see the light of day. What matters isn’t perfection, but continuous improvement
Security × Challenge
Preparation × Speed
Perfection × Improvement
I believe this is the most powerful combination for opening up the future. With this mindset, I am currently raising five beloved children while giving my all to both my personal life and my work.
